Thursday, December 23, 2010

I’m getting ready to head on out west to see my family, so I won’t be posting until just before the New Year. Just in case the holiday stress is getting a little intense, here are a few funny vintage ads that made me smile. Enjoy!

This ad proves that some things are timeless. What could be more homey and festive than twinkling electric holiday lights? And by all means, let the baby play with them!

Again…more proof that women dream of nothing but household tasks all year long. (This advertisement also confirms that Mrs. Santa was a total hottie back in the day.)

And lest you think only American women live for domestic chores, check out this ad from “across the pond.”

Okay…now we’re talking. She just got a Cadillac for Christmas! You know why? Because her food is stored properly, her husband’s shirts are perfectly ironed, and the rugs in her home are immaculate!

Occasionally, it’s one of those Christmases where everyone already has everything they need. What to do? Matching family pajamas! Don’t “Dad” and “Brother” look “neat” wearing pink? If the boss stops by, Dad could be in for some serious ribbing at the water cooler. But Brother had better hope none of the kids from school pay a visit…or he’s toast for the rest of the school year.

The next year, “Mom” wised up and everyone got…FIREARMS! Way to go, Mom!

Boys and girls, ignore all those people who tell you to stay in school and work hard. This is how you get to be president!

Speaking of celebrity endorsements…I wonder if they had the same power as they do nowadays. This may have been the year that a nation full of confused loved ones heard faint cries of “help me,” and hurried down the stairs on Christmas morning to find “Mom” parked under the tree, glamorously arrayed, yet unable to get up (due to being weighed down by several tons of couture fabric).

The following year, “Dad” laid down the law, and “Mom” was only allowed to be extravagant from the neck up. “Dad” still looks concerned though. Don’t worry. He’ll cheer right up as soon as he finds out he got a gun for Christmas!

Hope you all enjoyed my little break from beauty.

And in addition to humor, I also hope that your holiday is full of warmth, love and more blessings than you can count!

I’ve been a giant fan of EL’s Sumptuous mascara since I first tried it. Now I’m never without a tube. (I call it my “desert island” mascara.)

Guest what - this new incarnation is even better! It has all the benefits of the original formula, so it lifts, curls and gives me that flirty doe-eyed look. And…it ups the volume! Waaay up. I got loads of sexy, dramatic volume and no clumps. It also feels light weight, and still has the same great lasting power (no flakes or smudges).

Extreme Black was my favorite; and I also loved the limited edition Extreme Indigo (a deep flattering blue). This mascara is also available in Extreme Brown and Extreme Violet (limited edition). Fabulous!!!

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

In addition to my fun conversation last night, I also came down with a bug. Which means that today I’m resting as much as possible and drinking fluids like a good girl. I also have the heat turned up. That’s great for my sore throat and congestion, but not so great for my hands.

Blurb: This repairing and non-greasy cream wraps damaged and sensitive hands with softness. Apply freely on hands and nails. Nourishing and protecting, this astounding cream will help you get heavenly hands. Its ultimate refinery comes from the fact that it also strengthens your nails and softens your cuticles. Active ingredients: Chilean Rose, Avocado and Sweet Almond Precious Oils nourish and fortify damaged tissues. Acacia Honey, with its natural repairing properties, provides elasticity to fragile skins.

I go through hand cream like crazy during the winter, so I get opportunities to try lots of different ones. Not all of them stand out, but this one certainly does. First – I really like the fresh herbal fragrance. It’s especially welcome during the winter.

What’s even more welcome, though, is how well this cream works. It instantly softens, smoothes and soothes. It also absorbs quickly and keeps my hands pretty and soft without any greasiness. I like that my hands look and feel better immediately. And it’s one of the few hand creams that made a noticeable difference on my cuticles.

This is the first time I’ve tried something from this company, and the website seems to have quite a few other lovely items worth checking out. If you visit, read about Nuxe’s philosophy too. Nuxe is also available at Beauty.com and Dermstore.com.

And just so we're fully winterized...

I can’t remember if I’ve posted this video before; but even if I have, it bears re-posting. Amy Winfrey has made some of the strangest, cutest, cleverest, funniest animation I’ve ever seen; and this is probably my favorite. Enjoy and Happy Winter!

I meant to post this review yesterday, but ended up staying out late to have a fabulous conversation. So today there will be two reviews. Both of them for products to soothe dry, winter skin. Here’s our first lovely item. From Dr. Denese.

Blurb: A Customer Choice Award winner supercharged hydrating serum that locks in moisture to drastically reduce the look of dry lines and wrinkles. It intensely moisturizes skin for a soft, supple, luminous, more youthful look. So if your skin feels dry by midday, you need HydroShield®. If you see more dry lines around the eyes, cheeks and mouth area, each and every year, you need HydroShield®. Remember: Dry skin equals wrinkled skin. Hydrated skin equals plump, dewy, youthful looking skin. Suitable for any skin types from dry to normal to dramatically and almost immediately change the look of dry lines on your face. If your skin is oily, place it only around the eyes and neck and on dry patches--not on the oily T-zone. HydroShield® is remarkably effective for skins with dry lines and wrinkles, as it locks in hydration to recreate the youthful look you once had.

This is one of the most hydrating serums I’ve ever used. If winter dryness is an issue for you; I highly suggest giving this a try. Ingredients like ceramides and retinol provide both anti-aging and moisturizing benefits.

When I used this serum, I found that it spread evenly, had a silky feel, and absorbed very quickly. There was no stickiness or slickness, but my skin felt very soothed and hydrated – and there was even a bit of plumping. My skin stayed very soft during the day – even when switching from dry, cold, outdoor air to dry, warm, indoor air. Excellent product!

Friday, December 17, 2010

It’s Friday night and I have gotten almost nothing done on my “to do” list. I recently signed up for Netflix, and I spent waaay too much time adding things to my queue and watching old TV episodes on my computer. It’s pretty awesome. But not very productive. Especially when I’m supposed to be getting ready for my Christmas trip next week.

Okay. So I’m not quite ready to do anything yet; but maybe if I talk about one of the products I’m taking with me; it will get me started. Some nifty hair care from Cutler.

Blurb: Why simply shampoo your hair when this one product can do so much more? This specially-formulated Cleanser + Conditioner is a revolutionary way to cleanse and achieve healthy-looking, shiny hair that's soft and bouncy - with just one product! Specially formulated for dry, damaged hair can be used in place of shampoo, conditioner, leave-in conditioner, de-tangler, anti-frizz, shaving cream and body wash. Single-step, detergent-free formula cleans, conditions and defrizzes hair without lather. Detergent-free formula helps minimize color-fading, loss of elasticity and natural oils. Helps add body and shine to hair. Leaves your hair looking and feeling beautiful and healthy.

Now I actually like all the gazillion beauty steps, like shampooing, conditioning, leave-in, etc., etc. However, the TSA has made it their business to stamp out both terrorism and good grooming. Trying to bring lots of bottles in my carry-on seems to cause all kinds of commotion; so I really make an effort to pare down my beauty regimen (I do it for America and to keep my fellow passengers from hating my guts).

This product is coming with me to Christmas! I used a smaller amount than recommended in the directions, and still got clean, shiny, soft hair. It cleaned well, conditioned well; and it’s detergent-free, so my color is safe. I also tried it as a body wash, and got excellent results. And it made a surprisingly good shaving cream!

Check out the rest of the products on their very cool fancy website. You can also find Cutler at HSN.

One of the things I’ve been watching tonight are old episodes from The Office. Here’s one of my favorite scenes ever…

Have a great weekend!

P.S.: Sorry I missed yesterday’s post.

(ftc disclosure: sample/product received from manufacturer or representative)

They’re eco-friendly, green, rely on natural apothecary style ingredients and work hard to minimize their carbon footprint. There’s a bunch of other conscientious stuff they do which you can read about here.

Of course none of that would be very interesting if this wasn’t an excellent cleanser. Luckily…it is an excellent cleanser. The bottle says it’s PH balanced for all skin types, and that may be the reason it feels so easy on my skin. We had a recent cold snap, and my skin has been really sensitive – but since I’m also prone to breakouts, a cleanser with lots of oils is not my friend.

This cleanser is surprisingly gentle, yet it cleans very effectively. My skin feels smooth and balanced after I rinse. It leaves my skin feeling super clean, but not dry or stripped. And it also has a fresh grapefruit scent!

Blurb: Give your lashes an XL boost. With just one sweep, this innovative mascara base glides on and evenly coats and smoothes your lashes to maximize the results of your favorite Lancôme mascara. The magic behind this mascara base is the conditioning formula—featuring micro-fibers and Vitamin E - to add extra length and thickness to your lashes for added visible performance to your mascara.

If you’re wondering about whether the extra step of using a mascara base or primer is worth it, it absolutely is - but only if it’s a really good product. I’ve tried a whole bunch of mascara bases and primers over the last couple of years and this is only the second one I’ve loved enough to feature here. It’s mighty awesome!

Cils Booster acts as an excellent primer, and even adds some of length and volume on its own (yay!). It also conditions and protects my lashes from the drying effects of mascara. And…it's a wonderfully smooth base – which makes any mascara I use go on more easily, look better and stay put!

Monday, December 13, 2010

Today was not nearly as “Monday-ish” as I thought it would be. I felt really frantic all weekend; but I guess I got more done than I thought. The day actually went pretty smoothly. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that the whole week is just as easy.

Speaking of smooth (and didn’t I already do the smooth thing yesterday? Oh well…). Here’s a great skin-smoothing serum from Lisa Hoffman Skincare.

Blurb: This vitamin-rich serum retextures and improves skin clarity while reducing the appearance of fine lines to leave skin luminous. The silky formula also hydrates and adds radiance. After 15 minutes of application, 93.10% of participants agreed they liked the way the product absorbed into the skin. After 30 days, 79.3% of participants reported a lessening of deep lines and wrinkles. After 30 days, 82.76% of participants noticed an improvement in skin texture.

This was in my last Beautyfix kit, and it was a while before I got around to trying it out. I’m really impressed. First at the ingredients. It’s water free, and has lots of Vitamin A and C antioxidant protection. I liked that it absorbed almost immediately, and offered a tiny bit of hydration. I really appreciated how well it worked with my moisturizer(s) and foundation(s).

After about three weeks, my skin was looking and feeling very smooth. I’m not sure if there was a lessening of the deep wrinkles; but some of the tiniest lines were definitely minimized. What I noticed most was the overall smoothness of my skin. And I loved knowing I was getting a giant dose of antioxidants every morning.

Sunday, December 12, 2010

It looks like Hair Care Friday is a couple of days late (oops). This year, the holiday season has been a lot crazier, so I’m not quite as on top of things as I could be. A little more smoothness…and control would be very nice.

But (prepare for corny tie-in), even if there isn’t a product to completely control and smooth out my schedule; there just so happens to be one to provide those things for my hair. From Kérastase Paris.

I love NARS glosses. They feel good, look amazing, and have excellent staying power. I had a really difficult time choosing a gloss from this collection. The other gloss ("Downtown") was also pretty stellar in its own way. But I eventually settled on “Bougainville” because it just looked so darn delicious. (Oh, and sexy.)

The shade is actually deeper than it appears in the photo. It’s the color of pomegranate seeds, and it makes my lips look shiny and juicy. It’s wearable enough for day; and it’s also got enough pizzazz for evening. And this color really is an instant pick-me-up (no, not that kind).

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

After a very restless morning; someone sent me a nice note full of wonderful thoughts and ideas that made me cheerful for the rest of the afternoon. I love when that happens! A lovely image or two can sometimes make all the difference.

And now that my restless demeanor has softened. I think it’s only fitting that I feature something to soften up everything else. From Four Truffles.

Four Truffles has their own way of making things better. Besides creating wonderful body products, the company is committed to empowering women and children throughout the world. They source their organic 4T PDN Complex™ ingredients from female-operated cooperatives in Morocco and West Africa and then donate 10 percent of sales profits directly to women and children’s charities.

Blurb: FourTruffles all-natural luxuriously rich and creamy whipped Body Butter deeply hydrates, rejuvenates and binds moisture to skin. The sweet, simple scent from the first bite of an apple awakens skin and senses to a fresh start. The fruity Earth Apple aroma, ideal for both men and women, is known to evoke energy and feelings of love and happiness. Four Truffles Body Butter melts into skin to provide long lasting hydration and helps restore skin to a more youthful appearance with the 4T PDN Complex.

The first three ingredients are water, aloe and shea butter. Other ingredients include argan, olive and coconut oils. I was pretty sure I was going to like this, and I was absolutely right.

It has a luxurious whipped texture, and a lovely fresh apple scent (with a hint of coconut). It melted into my skin right away. There was no stickiness or greasiness, but my skin stayed hydrated all day. I especially noticed its staying power on my elbows and knees. Yummy.

This body butter is also available in a purse-sized tube. And if you’re thinking of giving it as a gift; right now it comes in a gorgeous limited edition 2oz. wooden apple-shaped jar.

Take a look at their website and learn more about how they create meaningful beauty. If you buy any 6.2oz Body Butter, Four Truffles will donate $4 to Bridges of Hope. You can also check out their blog and sign up for their their newsletter (you’ll receive a $4 coupon). Four Truffles can also be found at Dermstore.

Blurb: This super-fine pencil with a twist up tip allows for precise application and a thick, luscious lash line. Precision-size allows you to easily apply color at the lash line creating a fuller, thicker lash look. Easily deposits color just where you want it. Never needs sharpening!

Since I’ve made it my life’s work to investigate nearly every type of eyeliner ever concocted; it was only a matter of time until I got around to trying these. These liners are super slim retractable pencils, with tiny tips that sharpen themselves. Great!

I love using them! One of my favorite looks is to apply a regular liner in a fairly heavy, soft focus swoosh. Then I follow that with a thin, precise line of dense color right at the lashes. These pencils are perfect for that. They’re super soft, and go on easily without any skipping, dragging or pulling. The color is highly saturated and creates a smooth, even line. The self-sharpening tip stays small and can get right up to the lash line. The look is wonderful. The only caveat is that because the pencils are so soft, they can smudge. (So make sure to use a good primer, and don’t rub.)

Monday, December 6, 2010

Yeesh! I guess I was a little loopier than I thought this weekend. I didn’t even notice that my Friday post completely disappeared. Don’t worry – I found it and put it back.

Thanks to the magic of modern pharmaceuticals, my tooth/gum is much better. But I’m still taking painkillers, so I’m not as alert as I could be. Luckily my job doesn’t require me to operate heavy machinery. The un-heavy computer keyboard is enough of a challenge.

Aneeeeway...Today’s salute to modern pharmaceuticals is also a fairly corny tie-in to one of my all time favorite modern skin care products. From Origins.

Blurb: Nature’s gentle dermabrasion. Sand-blasting skin with coarse, chemical crystals? How painfully passé. Here’s age-smoothing exfoliation without irritation. Skin-refining Rice Starch, cushioned in cream, shows real affinity for rapidly removing sluggish cells, uneven patches and signs of skin damage and discolorations. Lemon Oil kick starts the process of illumination. Another age-sweeping action: skin-menacing molecules are mopped up. All while Aloe keeps skin calm and comfy. There’s no ouch, extra steps or other complications. No redness or flaking follows. The before-and-afters are amazing. Signs of fine lines and size of pores appear to shrink in size. Skin looks perfectly polished, smooth and luminous. And the perk-me-up aromas of Bergamot and Peppermint help you look on the bright side. Origins tested Modern Friction™ on a panel of 54 women. After just one try, of those who had undergone clinical micro-dermabrasion, 94% said they would now consider using Modern Friction™ instead.

I’ve been using this for years, and can’t believe I haven’t written about it yet. But sometimes when something is consistently reliable; it’s easy to take it for granted. Because it works. It does what it’s supposed to without any fanfare or fuss.

I first tried it when I was having issues with pigmentation, and it made a huge difference. After about six weeks, my skin tone was noticeably brighter and more even. Even better - my pores looked smaller and my skin seemed much smoother. I still apply it two nights a week to keep my skin looking good; and the mornings after I use it my skin looks absolutely radiant. It’s easy to use, non-irritating, doesn’t cause breakouts and always works. I love that!

Now...just in case I haven’t thrown enough “modern” at you this Monday. Check out this newfangled holo vocaloid craziness. I wonder if you’ll find it fascinating…or just wish I’d be done with the painkillers already.

Blurb: Using unique heat-polymer and setting technology, Ready Set Blow delivers easier, faster, longer-lasting, smooth blow-dry results. Accelerates blow dry time and "plumps" hair for a fuller heat style. Goes on to tame frizz, static and flyaways all day - even in the most humid conditions.

I would love to get a blowout at a Blow blow dry bar; but it’s a tad far for me to travel in the morning. Sooooo…enter the next best thing. Awesome products for home blowouts!

And awesome it is! This lotion made my blowout faster, easier and better looking! I rubbed a nickel-sized amount between my hands and smoothed it through my hair (starting at the ends). It had a very light scent and felt weightless. I was tempted to use more, but decided to follow directions instead and see what happened.

Good things happened. First of all my hair dried faster. It also felt very soft, and had a lot of swing. I was thrilled, though, at how great my blowout looked. Very smooth, nice shine and no frizz or flyaways. And it stayed that way all day long and into the evening. I tried it again today (dentist appointment and holiday party at work), and got tons of compliments. (Which cheered me up, and made me far less cranky about my tooth.) Love this stuff!

Thursday, December 2, 2010

Hello, everyone! I’ve decided to temporarily suspend my “Your Thursday Face” series for a while. Mostly because I’ve come across a ton of really awesome products lately, and I want to have time to feature them all. It's all good.

Well...it’s all good except for the fact that I am on day #2 of a toothache. I made a dentist appointment for tomorrow morning (cause I’m trying to act like a big girl); but it’s not very fun right now. So to keep my mind off of it, I’m going to focus on a beauty product that’s as far away from my face as possible. From Exuviance.

Way to go, Exuviance! I’ve been thrilled so far with all of their fabulous face products, and now they literally have head-to-toe awesomeness! I used it twice a week and my feet are softer and smoother than they’ve ever been! They also feel great. I wish I had known about this during the summer, but I sure am glad I know about it now.

If you have issues with dry, cracked skin on your heels – go get a jar of this!

When you visit the website, be sure to check out their Best Sellers and request a catalogue. (also…3 free samples on orders over $75). You may also want to check the retail locator to see if you can browse in person.

(ftc disclosure: sample/product received from manufacturer or representative)

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Okay, I know I don’t usually have a midweek moisturizer report. I just thought it would sound all newsy and official. I got a note today that began with “Dear Editor.” Cool, huh? I’m practically a media mogul!

Blurb: Light and gentle, this easily absorbed moisturising lotion is ideal for combination, oily or problem skin. This finely balanced blend of naturally active skin-conditioning ingredients includes borage oil (a rich source of the essential fatty acid GLA), echinacea, hops, avocado oil, panthenol (pro-vitamin B5) and natural antioxidants beta-carotene and vitamin E to replace lost moisture and help protect your skin, leaving it soft and smooth with a naturally healthy glow. Includes borage and avocado to lightly moisturise and balance the skin.

One of the cool things about trying so many products is knowing what’s out there when friends, family, acquaintances, etc. tell me they’re looking for something. An even cooler thing, though, is trying out something that works exactly perfectly for me! Yay!!

This moisturizer fits so many of my needs it’s dizzying. I have combination to oily skin that’s also sensitive, prone to breakouts, and still requires a good moisturizer (on account of the fact that I’m no longer in my teens…or twenties…or…never mind). This moisturizer smells nice, has a lovely texture, absorbs quickly, doesn’t cause breakouts, feels weightless, hydrates, and even minimizes my pores slightly.

What’s not to love? (Answer: nothing, this is an awesome light moisturizer).

so who am i anyway?

(This is me -- bringing my "A" game to kindergarten).......A while back, I re-connected to my inner-beauty junkie and decided to hop on the bandwagon by adding to the fifty gazillion beauty blogs on the web. These days I'm looking for ways to balance creativity, romance, friendships, fashion and sleep. And of course...keeping my eyes open for new ways to feel pretty. If you want to send a note, sample or feedback, contact me at ifeelpretty@comcast.net. I'll gladly respond to your notes and comments, and I'm always happy to check out any product samples and information (I'll only feature products I love, though).

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#1 Reviews: Since I've gotten several emails asking me why I never seem to dislike anything; I thought I'd put a quick answer here on the site. I try out lots of samples that are sent to me as well as stuff I go out and purchase myself. I decided to only feature products I love - because if I don't love it; I'd rather just get rid of it and move on without having to write about it. I want to have as much fun with this blog as humanly possible and use my time to get all gushy over the really good stuff. So if I don't like something, you'll probably never hear about it.

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#3 Disclaimer: This blog is intended for entertainment and informative purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical, personal and/or consumer advice. Always consult a qualified professional for your personal and medical concerns. The author (aka: me) is not liable for any outcome (good or bad) resulting from information obtained from this site. Quite frankly, I'm pretty sure that you already know what you need more than I ever could; so I'm really only adding this disclaimer thingy to be proactive and cover my bases.